Total hip replacement implants
Total hip replacement implants are designed to help a patient get back as close as possible to the healthy, active lifestyle before hip pain limited the mobility. Almost all hip replacement implants have consisted of a three-part system:
- A hip stem, usually made from such as titanium, which is implanted down the shaft of the femur;
- A femoral head, made from either metal or ceramic, which sits on top of the hip stem and replaces the “ball” portion of the hip.
- A hemispherical component made up of a metal shell and either a ceramic or plastic liner, which replaces the “socket” in which the femoral head sits.